Mechanism for centering assembled



March 21, 1950 c. WRIGHT 2,501,626

MECHANISM FOR CENTERING ASSEMBLED BOOK ELEMENTS IN MATCH-BOOKING MACHINES Filed May 3, 1948 r 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 L/ak EM March 21, 1950 c. F. WRIGHT 2 MECHANISM FOR CENTERING ASSEMBLED BOOK ELEMENTS IN MATCH-BOOKING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3, 1948 Bu/da'w' CrcarZeS IW' diam oi 64m.

March 21, 1950 c. F. WRIGHT 2,501,626

MECHANISM FOR CENTERING 'ASSEMBLED BOOK ELEMENTS IN MATCH-BOOKING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 3, 1948 March 21, 1950 c. F. WRIGHT 5 L MECHANISM FOR CENTERING ASSEMBLED BOQK ELEMENTS IN MATCH-BOOKING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 'May 3, 1948 March 21, 1950 2,501,626

C F. WRIGHT MECHANISM FOR CENTERING ASSEMBLED BOOK ELEMENTS IN MATCH-BOOKING MACHINES Filed May 3, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Mar. 21,- 1950 .MECHANISM FOR 'CENTERING ASSEMBLED BOOK ELEMENTS IN MATCH-"BOQKING:

MACHINES Charles 'F. Wright, Akron, hio,'assignor-.to The Diamond Match Company, New York, N. Y.,.a

corporation of Delaware Application-May 3, 1948, Serial No. 24',7.65

13 Claims. 1

This invention relates .to match booking machines, having reference more especially to machines embodying instrumentalities whereby match combs and complementary covers therefor are introducedand assembled in a carrier at suitable locations :in its path, and whereby each assembly thus effected is transported to. successive units, including stitching mechanism for binding the associate cover and combs at the butts of the latter.

A machine of the type mentioned is disclosed in Letters PatentNo. 1,042,472, dated October 29,1912, wherein, briefly described, the carrier is represented as comprising an intermittently movable endless chain of pocketed links into the pockets of which links covers with under-folded rear end portions are inserted, the fo1ds;.projecting rearwardly beyond the faces of the respective links. At a succeeding station -a reciprocative plunger is eifective to set match combsfiatwise within the pockets of thelinks and under the covers, the butts of the combs entering the opposing cover folds. Thence the assembled match combs are advanced to stitching mechanism which binds the folded endsof the covers to the butts of the match combs.

In the previous machine the space between the walls of the pocket of each link of the carrier was equal in width, or substantially so, to the width of a cover, but as the width of a conventional match comb is somewhat less than that of a cover there was likelihood of play between the .edges of the comb and the walls of the link, thus permitting lateral displacement of the comb in relation to the cover, particularly duringthe vendwise .insertion of the comb within the pocket of the link, thereby resulting in an imperfect .connection of the book elements at thestitcher.

To overcome this objection is the principal object of my present invention, and to that end Imodify the previous booking machine in certain particulars, and provide between the comb setting and binding mechanisms devices of simple andeflicientconstruction and operation whereby the unattached associated match combs and covers are arranged in proper relation to each other while they are in the carrier and before their presentation to the binding mechanism, thus effectin 'the centering of the associated covers andcombs in *relation to'each other and ensuring their uniform disposition in the path (or paths) of the bindingimechanism.

With this object in view :and other objects which will presently appear, the invention comprises novel features of construction .and combinations of ,parts which in a preferred form will be hereinafter described, the-scopeof the inven tion being expressed .in the appended claims.

Inthe drawings- Figure 1 is ageneral-perspective view, partly in section, of a portion ot a match booking =machineembodying the,princ iple of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing devices for progressivelyopening the under end folds 10f the covers .of the successive book assemblies in their passage to mechanism for centering the associated combs and covers in relation atoieach other.

Fig. 3 is a view-representing the fold .closing element.

Fig. 4 he plan partly in'section, of aportion of the machine between :the comb inserting and binding mechanisms.

Fig. .5 is a transversesection throughthe carrier, on the line .5--5-:of.-Fig. 4, showing a :book

assembly in which the end-fold of the cover is in,

its initially closedposition and the comb-is seated under the body of the -.cover and-in front of the free edge of :the fold.

Fig. 6 is a similar section, on the linet-G of Fig. 4, showing the end fold of the cover in :-depending openposition. I

.Fig. 7 is a sectional :elevation, :on the. line 1-4 of Fig. 4. I

Fig. .8 is a transverse vertical section, on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a similar section, on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal :section, on the line l0-lfl of Fig. :9. v

Fig. 11 isan elevation of two zadjoining :carrier links with the book-assemblies therein when they are located in the path ofra reciprocating cover and comb centralizing element, :showing a toothed slide for periodically engagingthe adja-- element in itsuppermost position and insengage ment with the match covers'an'dcombsof two adjoiningbook assemblies while the combs:areibeing movedrearwardly to thedepending folds oftheir covers, one of the :covers being shown in section toexpose the underlying scombror combsz Fig. '14 is .a similar view showing the actuating slide forthe centralizing element, thecombsrhe ing represented as fully moved toward the end folds of the cover. In this view is shown a supporting member for elevating the forwardly eX- tending ends of the covers imposed thereon.

Referring to the drawings, ill designates a portion of the supporting frame including the table l6 of a match booking machine. ll designates a portion of the intermittently-movable pocketed carrier whereof the upper run is guided in a longitudinally extending channel i8 in the table and is actuated through suitable transmission mechanism from the usual power driven cam shaft. The carrier illustrated embodies an endless chain of clamping links l9 whereof each link comprises a base having parallel side walls 2! with inwardly overhanging flanges 22 and having also suitably disposed ears 23 by means of which the adjoining links are hingedly connected by pins. The under surface of the link is provided with rack teeth 24 with which meshes gearing included in the mechanism for intermittently actuating the carrier. Within each link is arranged in the space between the side walls 2| a spring clamping leaf 25 which co-acts with the under surfaces of the respective flanges of the link to maintain temporarily within the link a cover or an associated cover and comb, as hereinafter mentioned.

At the usual cover supply station covers, as A, each folded at its rearward end (as at a) are inserted in the space between the walls of the adjacent links and upon the respective clamping leaves so that the end folds extend rearwardly beyond the faces of the respective links, the free edges of the projecting folds resting upon and being supported by the upper surface of the rear wall 26 of the channel l8.

At a succeeding station match combs, B, heads forward, are entered in pairs in the adjacent links of the carrier by means of a horizontal pusher plate 21 on a reciprocating plunger 216 which is actuated in timed relation to the carrier by suitable lever and link connections, 28, under the influence of a cam 29 (Fig. 1) on the main shaft, as shown and described in the aforementioned Patent No. 1,042,472.

In the present construction embodying my invention the leading end 30 of the pusher plate 21 is foreshortened sufficiently to locate the butts of the match combs in spaced relation to the line of fiexure and adjacent the open mouths of the rearwardly projecting folds of the cover instead of setting the butts between the folds and the bodies of the respective covers.

The upper surface of the rear wall of the guide channel I8 is interrupted for an interval of its length between the comb inserting and the succeeding binding station by an elongated recess 3! which is so located as to receive the end folds of the progressing covers after the match combs have been inserted in the links of the carrier, thus permitting such folds, by virture of the inherent elasticity of the cover material, to swing downwardly into the recess 31] after the book elements have passed from the comb inserting station, as seen at m, Fig. 2.

Slightly spaced from the rear of and in parallel relation to the recess 31 is a blade 32 whereof the free end extends beyond the receiving end of the recess and is outwardly flared, as at 33, the opposite end of the blade terminating short of the path of a centering head, 3- 1, hereinafter described, and having a downward projection 35 which is secured, as by bolts 36, to the rear wall of the channel l8. As the book assemblies approach the recess 3| the down swung folds of the covers enter the space at the flaring portion of the blade 32, and as they progress within the parallel space between the blade and the recess such fold portions are moved to a depending position at right angles, or substantially so, to the path of the carrier links, as seen at 1 Figs. 2, 6 and 8.

overhanging the recess 31 in the region of and in spaced parallel relation to the body of the blade 32 is a tongue 37 which is formed and arranged to intercept and support the bodies of the covers adjacent the fiexure lines of their end folds, so as to coact with the blade to en sure the accurate downward flexing of the end folds of the respective covers. The tongue shown consists of a metal strip having a downward end projection 38 which is secured by the bolts 36 to the channel wall, a suitable spacer 39 being interposed between the wall and the projections 35 and 38, and the body of the strip being spirally twisted to provide for the bodies of the covers situated at the receiving end of the recess a flat supporting surface 0 merging with an edge support d, and also for the end fold of the cover a flexing cam e merging with a vertical supporting surface f (see Figs. 2 and 6).

The assembled covers and combs progress from the cover supporting tongue 31 to a location in which the combs of two adjacent assemblies are in the active path of spaced pusher plates ill each plate constituting a comb-positioning member and being adjustably secured by a bolt and slot connection, as at (380, to a horizontally reciprocative plunger M which is slidably mounted in a forwardly projecting housing t2 forming a part of the table.

In the present instance the means for actuating the plunger M and therewith the pusher plates ll in timed relation to the carrier comprises a barrel cam 43 fast on a shaft 34 having its bearing in a suitably-disposed hanger 45 depending from the table (see Figs. 7 and 8). Fast on the shaft is a sprocket wheel M or other gear, which is suitably connected with and driven by a rotating element of the booking machine. Operatively fitted in the race 4? of the cam is a roll or stud 38 depending from the plunger, the contour of the race being such that in each dwell of the carrier the plunger H is recprocated and in each successive movement of the carrier the plunger is at rest in retracted position. In its movement toward and into the adjacent links of the quiescent carrier the pusher plates abut the heads of the opposing match combs underlying the covers and bodily push the combs rearwardly to project their butts beyond the faces of the respective links and in proximity to the lines of fiexure of the projecting foldable end portions of the respective covers.

In order to hold down the forwardly projecting portions of the covers while .the rearward ends of the bodies of the covers are supported upon the tongue 31, a blade 49 parallel with the tongue 37 is suitably arranged to overhang such portions at the front of the carrier. The end of the blade adjacent the plunger housing 32 is slightly flared upwardly (as at 59) and affixed to a suitable bracket 5| attached to the front wall of the channel, the opposite end of the blade 49 being free and slightly flared upwardly (as at 52) to ensure the passage of the advancing covers under the blade (see Figs. 1, 4. and '7).

As the forwardly projecting portions of the covers escape the fixed end of the blade 49 they pass to and upon the inclined supporting surface of a member 53 which is secured to the cap plate 54 of the plunger housing 42. This member consists of a wedge-shaped strip having a downwardly flared end portion 55 projecting beyond the side of the housing adjacent the fixed end of the blade, so as to ensure the passage of the op-' posing ends of the covers to and upon the strip. Thus such cover ends are inclined upwardly from the plane of the associated match combs to permit the free and unobstructed passage of the pusher plates 40 to and against the. forward or head ends of the combs (see Figs. '7, 8 and 9).

Ovenhanging the carrier links adjacent the cover supporting member 53 is a spanner plate 56 which is supported at its respective ends by the bracket 5! and a companion bracket 5'! that is also fixed to the front wall of the channel l8. The spanner plate 56 has secured thereto bowed springs 58 which resiliently support in spaced parallel relation to the rear of the carrier, a backer-bar 59 for the depending end folds of the covers located under the spanner plate, which bar faces the acting ends of the reciprocative pusher plates 40 (see Figs. 9 and Vertically reciprocable within the space between the backer bar 59 and the carrier during each dwell of the latter, is the centering head 34 which is so constructed as to ensure in its upper stroke the centralization of the elements of the overhanging book assembly in the carrier. This head 34, in its preferred form, comprises a vertically disposed rectangular block having its upper surface suitably recessed to afford two adjacent guideways 6|, each of step formation at its respective ends; that is to say, the corner shoulders 62 at the bottom 63 of each recess are outwardly flared at their entrant ends 64 and are spaced to afford a lower guide for the butt of a match comb that is being pushed rearwardly of the carrier and toward the hacker bar 59. The upstanding end walls 65 of each guide recess are bevelled, as at 66, to provide a flaring mouth which receives the rearward end of the overlying cover of the assembly as the head approaches the limit of its upward movement, thus ensuring the accurate positioning of the cover upon the underlying comb in the recess (see Figs. 12, 13 and 14) The lower portion of the head 34 is adjustably secured to the upper portion of a vertically movable slide member 61 by means of bolts 68 which pass freely through elongated openings 69 in the head and are threaded into the upper part of such member. This member is slidably fitted in spaced vertical guides 10 which are bolted to a suitably located supporting bracket H at the rear of the table. The slide 61 is provided with a rearwardly projecting horizontal rib l2 slightly spaced below the head 34, which rib has threaded therein a pair of spaced vertical setscrews '53 upon which the head is supported. Hence by the manipulation ofthe set-screws, when the bolts 68 are retracted, the head can be nicely adjusted vertically in relation to the slide, and then securely locked by a tightening turn of the bolts.

The slide 6'! is provided with a forwardly projecting roll M which is operatively fitted in the race '15 of a face cam I6 fast on the driven shaft 44 previously referred to, the contour of the race being such that in the rotation of the cam the slide 67 and therewith the centralizing head 34 are vertically reciprocated in timed relation to the carrier.

A preferred means for adjustably mounting the roll on the slidewill presently.

appear.

Formed on or fixedly fitted into. the top of the slide, are upstanding tapering teeth I1 (twouin the present instance) which are so disposed that in the upward stroke of the slide during each dwell of the carrier such teeth enter the central interdental spaces of the overlying rack teeth 24 of two adjoining links .of thecarrier, it being noted that the floor of the channel l8-and the.

tracted by the action of the cam 43, whereupon the carrier advances the assembled bookelements toward the usual stitching mechanism which is enerally indicated at S in Fig. 1. In this move-,

ment of the carrier the depending folds, y, of the r covers are intercepted by the vertical nose 19 of the cam face of a folder bar 8|, :which bar is seated in the adjacent end of the recess 3! of the rear channel wall and is also bolted or otherwise secured to the back of the wall (see Figs. 3 and 4). As shown, the cam face inclines upwardly and rearwardly from the vertical nose portion 19 to the horizontal rear portion 82 of the bar, and is effective to bend the opposing cover folds progressively under the buttsof the match combs. In the next succeedingstep of the carrier such folds escape the folder bar 81, whereupon the free edges of the folds spring against the upper edge of the underlying channel wall (as indicated at a, Fig. 3), thus being supported until the book assembly progresses to and is acted upon by the stitching mechanism. In the present instance this mechanism includes two stitcher heads which are arranged in spaced relation to effect the simultaneous binding of two spaced book assemblies borne by the carrier.

As a simple and eflicient means for adjusting the positioning teeth 1! of the slide 61 in relation to the overlying rack teeth 24 of the carrier, in order to insure the registerin engagement of the opposing teeth, the cam roll 14 of the slide is mounted on the forwardly projecting end of a stud83 which is slidably fitted in the eccentric bore 84 of a bushing 85 rotatably seated in a transerse bore 86 of the slide, the rearward end of the stud projecting beyond the bushing and being threaded to receive a locking nut 81., The rearward end of the bushing is form d with a circumferential flange '88 with which vco-act clamp pieces 89 overlapping the adjacent edge of the flange, which pieces are supported by screws 90 threaded in the. slide and manipulative toefiect the clamping or unclamping of the bushing, as desired.

The flange of the bushing has spaced sockets 9| adapted to receive a suitable wrench for partially turning the bushing to adjust the eccentric stud 83 and its cam roll 14 when the bushing is released. Hence if a, slight adjustment of the positioning teeth 11 of the slide be necessary the bushing can be partially rotated while the cam roll is held in position in the race of the cam 16, thereby enabling the slide to be raised or lowered to the extent of the eccentricity of the cam roll 14, it being noted that the bracket 11 has formed therein an opening 50 of sufiicient areato afford ments of book matches, one end of each cover element projecting beyond said carrier and having an inwardly foldable end portion whereof the line of flexure is spaced from the adjacent end of the complementary comb element, comb-positioning means to act upon the comb elements of unattached book assemblies advanced thereto by the carrier, thereby moving such comb elements in relation to their cover elements and in proximity to the lines of fiexure of the foldable portions of the latter, a centering member movable in angular relation to and from the projecting portions of the covers and between the paths of said carrier and said lines of flexure, said centering member having a guide portion to embrace the opposing edges of such projecting cover ends and the associated combs while the centering member and the comb-positioning means approach the limits of their respective acting movements, a reciprocative slide for actuating said centering member, said slide and said carrier having mating parts engageable at determined intervals in the travel of the carrier in order to ensure the alinement of the proximate cover element with the guide portion of the centering member during the active movement of the latter, a cam-engaging member on said slide, a cam coacting with said cam-engaging member to effect the reciprocation of the slide, and means for adjusting said cam-engaging member to regulate the stroke of the slide.

7. In a match-booking machine having a carrier for the assembled cover and comb elements of book matches, one end of each cover element projecting beyond said carrier and having an inwardly-foldable end portion whereof the line of flexure is spaced from th adjacent end of the complementary comb element, comb-positioning means to act upon the comb elements of unattached book assemblies advanced thereto by the carrier, thereby moving such comb elements in relation to their cover elements and in proximity to the lines of flexure of the foldable portions of the latter, a centering member movable in angular relation to and from the projecting portions of the covers and between the paths of said carrier and said lines of flexure, said centering member having a guide portion. to embrace the opposing edges of such projecting cover ends and the associated combs while the centering member and the positionin means approach the limits of their respective acting movements, a reciprocative slide for actuating said centering member, adjustable connection between said slide and centering member, said slide and said carrier having mating parts engageable at determined intervals in the travel of the carrier in order to ensure the alinement of the proximate cover element with the guide portion of the centering member during the active movement of the latter, a cam-engaging member on said slide, a cam co-acting with said cam-engaging member to effect the reciprocation of the slide, means for adjusting said cam-engaging member to regulate the stroke of the slide, and means for operating the comb-positioning means in timed relation to said slide and the carrier.

8. In a match-booking machine, the combination with a carrier for assembled cover and comb elements of book matches, one end of each cover element projecting beyond said carrier and having an inwardly-foldable end portion whereof the line of flexure is spaced from the ends of the complementary comb elements, said carrier comprising an intermittently-movable chain of pocketed '10 links whereof each link-is provided with rack teeth, of comb-positioning means to act upon the comb element of'unattached book assemblies advanced thereto by the carrienthereby moving such comb elements in relation to their cover elements and in proximity to thelines of flexure of the foldable cover portions, a centering member movable in angular relation to and from th projecting portions of the cover elements and between the paths of said carrier and said lines of fiexure, said centering member having a guide portion to embrace the opposing edges of such projecting cover portions and the associated comb elements while the centering member and the comb-positioning means approach the limits of their respective acting movements, a reciprocative slide for actuating said centering member, said slide having a toothed portion which meshes with the opposing rack teeth of the carrier at determined intervals in the travel of the carrier in order to ensure the alinement of the proximate cover element with the centering member during the active movement of the latter, and means for operating said slide and the comb-positioning means in timed relation to each other and to said carrier.

9. In a match-booking machine, the combination of an intermittently-movable carrier having pocketed links to receive match book covers with folded end portions projectin beyond the links, means adjacent the path of said carrier for inserting comb elements in said pocketed links and in association with th complementary covers to position said comb elements with their butts short of the folds of the covers, means adjacent the path of the carrier whereby the cover folds are caused to assume an open condition in their progress from said comb-inserting means, means whereby the previously inserted combs are moved to position their butts in proximity to the open end folds, means for centering said associated combs and covers in relation to each other during the second positioning movement of the combs, means whereby said folds are closed to encase the butts of the complementary combs, and means whereby the associated covers and combs are bound together. r

10. In a match-booking machine, the combination of an intermittently-movable carrier having pocketed links to receive match book covers with folded end portions projecting beyond the links, means adjacent the path of said carrier for inserting comb elements in said pocketed links and in association with the complementary covers to position said comb elements with their butts short of the folds of the covers, means adjacent the path of the carrier whereby the cover folds are caused to assume an open condition in their progress from said comb-inserting means, means whereby the previously inserted combs are moved to position their butts in proximity to the open end folds, means for centering said combs and covers in relation to each other during the second positioning movement of the combs, means whereby said folds are closed to encase the butts of the complementary combs, and means whereby the associated covers and combs are bound together, said centering means including a cover and comb guiding head located between the paths of the carrier and the line of flexure of the projecting end folds of the cover.

11. In a match-booking machine, the combination of an intermittently-movable carrier having pocketed links to receive match book covers with folded end portions projecting beyond the links, means adjacent the path of said carrier for inserting comb elements in said pocketed links and in association with the complementary covers to position said comb elements with their butts short of the folds of the covers, means adjacent the path of the carrier whereby the cover folds are caused to assume an open condition in the progress of the covers from said comb-inserting means, means whereby the previously inserted combs are moved to position their butts in proximity to the lines of fiexure of the open end folds, means for centering said combs and covers in relation to each other during the second positioning movement of the combs, means whereby said end folds are closed to encase the butts of the complementary combs, and means whereby the associated covers and combs are bound together, said centering means including a cover and comb guiding head located between the paths of the carrier and the lines of flexure of the projecting end folds of the covers, and said fold opening means including a fold-supporting member extending longitudinally of the path of the carrier and having a portion interrupted in its length by an elongated recess which permits the angular opening of the folded portion in its passage to the said comb-positioning means.

12. In a match-booking machine, the combination of an intermittently-movable carrier having pocketed links to receive match book covers with folded end portions projecting beyond the links, means adjacent the path of said carrier for inserting comb element in said pocketed links and in association with the complementary covers to position said comb elements with their butts short of the folds of the covers, means adjacent the path of the carrier whereby the cover folds are caused to assume an open condition in their progress from said comb-inserting means, means whereby the previously inserted combs are moved to position their butts in proximity to the lines of flexure of the open end folds, means for centering said combs and covers in relation to each other during the second positioning movement of the combs, means whereby said end folds are closed encase the butts of the complementary combs, and means whereby the associated covers and combs are bound together, said centering means including a, cover and comb guiding head located between the paths of the carrier and the lines of flexure of the projecting end folds of the covers, and said opening means including a foldsupporting member extending longitudinally of the path of the carrier and constructed to permit the angular opening of the folded portions of the covers after the association of the combs therewith, and means located adjacent the second positioning means for effecting further angular opening of the folded ends of the covers as the assembled book elements approach said second positioning means.

13. In a match-booking machine, the combination of an intermittently-movable carrier having pocketed links to receive match book covers with folded end portions projecting beyond the links, means adjacent the path of said carrier for inserting comb elements in said pocketed links and in association with the complementary covers to position the comb with their butts short of the folds of the covers, means adjacent the path of the carrier whereby the cover folds are caused to assume an open condition in the progress of the covers from said comb inserting means, means whereby the previously inserted combs are moved to position their butts in proximity to the lines of fiexure of the open end folds, means for centering said combs and covers in relation to each other during the second positioning of the combs, means whereby said end folds are closed to encase the butts of the complementary combs, and means whereby the associated covers and combs are bound together, said centering means including a cover and comb guiding head located between the paths of the carrier and the lines of fiexure of the projecting end folds of the covers, and said cover-opening means including a foldsupporting member extending longitudinally of the path of the carrier and constructed to permit the angular opening of the folded portions of the covers in the progress of the assemblies to the second positioning means, and means for effecting further angular opening of the folded ends of the covers and supporting the bodies of the covers at the end folds as the assembled book elements approach said second positioning means.

CHARLES F. WRIGHT.

No references cited. 

